Woodland library mural captures colorful nursery stories

The likes of Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan and Rapunzel are coming alive at the Woodland Public Library where a local artist is putting some final touches on a wall mural in the children's area.

Muralist Rebecca England, 28, began the project before Halloween and says the fairytale and nursery rhyme-inspired piece should be done by Valentine's Day.

England is depicting well-known characters from children stories, as well as some lesser-known characters to "encourage people to explore children's literature," she said. These include "St. George and the Dragon," the German folk story "Flying Robert" and "Struwwel Peter."

"It's as much for the adults as it is for the kids," said England, who added that she has received great feedback so far. "It's always nice to feed off the enthusiasm of the parents and the kids that come in. That's the best feeling in the world to me is knowing they're getting excited about my art."

The mural begins on the children's section west wall, with an open book reading "Once upon a time," and ends on the north wall with a family reading stories. In between is a flow of scenes and characters such as Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstock and the Ugly Duckling.

"Art has really been my first love, besides the Lord," said England, who transplanted to Woodland with her husband and daughter from the Bay Area in July. "I was brought up as an only child and art was a way to occupy myself with creating my own fantasy worlds and use my imagination to stave off boredom."

England is a children's book illustrator and art tutor by trade, and earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in traditional illustration at the Academy of Art in San Francisco.

"This has truly been a blessing to even get this job. It doesn't normally work this fast," said England.

Below Humpty Dumpty on the west wall is a frog prince, a special memorial for Elijah Lewis, the young boy who died in the Bel Air parking lot on Fourth of July last year. He loved frogs so much, his grandmother Sharon Russell explained, that "froggy" was a long standing nickname.

After his death, Lewis' family donated money for the library's toddler playtime zone, underneath a portion of the mural, with activity tables, interactive wall panels and a bright area rug, in memory of the boy.

The family is also organizing a book drive in which favorite children's books, including those enjoyed by Elijah, are being collected. The books will be donated to the library with memorial name plates later this year.

"It will help us think of him whenever we're there," said Russell previously.

Paint and supplies for the mural project are provided by Friends of the Woodland Public Library.